Bowie State Lady Bulldogs Softball Splits on Opening Day of CIAA Championships

RALEIGH, N.C. - The first day of play at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Softball Championship featured intense competition among eight teams.  After eight games over the course of the morning and afternoon, six teams live to see another day at Walnut Creek Softball Complex.

In the first round of play on Thursday, Bowie State jumped to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Saint Augustine’s with Nicoleen Ochoa’s RBI bunt single, Jacqueline Pickering’s two-run double and Deanna Matlock’s two-run single. 

Marley Parker’s three-run homerun gave the Lady Falcons an offensive spark.  Saint Augustine’s continued the momentum in the bottom of the second with five runs off seven hits capped by Jasmine Rios’ two-run homerun.  The Lady Falcons added one run in the fourth, fifth and sixth to pull away 11-5. 

The Lady Bulldogs added one run in the top of the seventh following a solo homerun by Cassandra Clayborne, but it was not enough to overcome the deficit.

    

In elimination play, Bowie State (14-18) wasted little time in the morning contest against Fayetteville State University.  The Lady Bulldogs took advantage of Danielle Watt’s RBI double and a Lady Bronco error in the top of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. Pickering’s sacrifice fly in the top of the third pushed Bowie State ahead 3-0. 

Fayetteville State (16-14) plated two runs in their final at-bat, one with ­­­Ivory Gladden's fielder's choice and another on Alex Wickham's RBI single through the right side. Fortunately for Bowie State, Ochoa got FSU’s Brittany Freeman to pop out to end the game and the Lady Broncos season.

Clayborne and Ochoa led Bowie State overall over the two games, pounding out five hits each and scored a combined five runs. Watt accounted for four hits while Matlock and junior Caitlin O’Neill recorded three hits apiece.

Chowan University and Saint Augustine’s University both secured a spot in semifinal play on Friday while four teams will battle for two remaining semifinal slots.  Winston-Salem State University and Virginia Union University will compete for a spot in Friday’s (5/1) semifinals at 10:00am. 

Virginia State University and Bowie State University will also battle to secure a spot in the semifinals in a Friday (5/1) 10:00 am contest, weather permitting.